Her Choice

Chapter 8: Get That Gate Closed

     My tongue felt numb from holding it between my teeth, as I held back my screams and retaliations from the strong set of hands that continued to hold my arms behind my back. The sack still over my head to prevent me to see where we were going, though I knew exactly where. After all, I did know the ins and outs of these castle walls.  

     "Your majesty, the traitor." The man holding me said as he ripped off the sack and kept his tight grip on my arms pushing me to the ground, making me trip over my feet and faceplant into the cold, jagged stone. I could already taste the iron dripping down the side of my face and onto my cheek, letting my eyes snap out of their blurry haze of light as I already knew where I was. Seeing my father's back faced towards me as he stood on his bedroom's balcony, overseeing the swords clash from below. 

     "Thank you General Glozelle. That will be all." His unimpressed voice sent shivers to my spine, this was the first time seeing him since my brother's birth.

     The set of hands released my arms, giving me the urge to run towards Miraz and push him off the balcony. Yet Glozelle stood right next to me, his crossbow aimed at my chest so I wouldn't dare try anything. Knowing that I'd already attempt to strike given the chance.

     "Seems like you have chosen to side with the enemy." Miraz said, his back still turned to me.

     "Seems like I chose correctly." I wiped the blood collecting at my jawline, that was starting to stain my beautiful Narnian dress.

     "You and those freaky little friends of yours are foolish."

     "We knew what we were doing when we came here."

     He turned at my comment. His dead eyes not daring to blink sending me an uneasy feeling. A feeling I hadn't felt around him in a while. 

     "Did you know what you were doing when you started this war? Looks to me that you have forgotten what Telmarines are capable of-"

     "Looks to me that your Telmarines can't fight for shit."

     He chuckled as he stalked towards me, his large frame towering over mine, "You do not know what you have started my stupid child."

     "You're in no position to call me your child." I spit out, my jaw tight. "You never wanted me when you found out mother had a girl. I only lived this long because you were praised and worshiped by the people for having a sweet, little obedient daughter who did as daddy instructed. Well guess what?" I stepped forward, "I have picked a side and it is not yours. So let it go-"

     Before I could finish my sentence he struck the same side of my face that was already bleeding. Sending me so hard I fell to the ground. My cheekbone throbbing from the impact of his large wedding ring. I knelt on my knees in fear and shock that he laid a hand on me in the way he did. I knew he hated me, but I guess somewhere in my heart I still had some hope that he would never bring physical pain to me. Embraced with reality as I stayed on the floor while he stood there towering over me, a cold expression rested on his face as if he didn't just abuse his own blood. "You've always been a confident girl Aravis." He hissed, "Thinking you know how everything works." He mockingly paced back and forth, "You think you know how a castle is ruled, how battles are won, how this fight will end..." He crouched down to my level, his dead eyes again meeting with mine tears brimming at the edges as I held onto my burning face, "But mommy isn't here to save you."

     He stood up and viciously locked a chunk of my hair into his grasp and dragged me across the floor to the balcony where he pushed my face against the sharp metal bars. Forcing me to watch through the opening of them, the battle unfold down in the bailey of the castle I used to call my home. I tried to fight back against my father's grip, but I soon gave up when I felt my body cease to the exhaustion and pain stinging the gash in the side of my head. Halting my squirming, my attention stayed on the aches and bruises starting to form. The light tickle of the blood inching its way down my face. Just then, my line of sight snapped to the left side of the balcony from a Narnian jumping onto the ledge, planning to attack Miraz my coward father he let go of the grip on my head and backed away from the beast. A loud wail of pain escaped out of the Narnian's muzzle from getting hit in the shoulder by Glozelle's crossbow. Miraz slowly crept towards the creature watching him hang onto the ledge with one arm, fearful for his life. 

     "Leave him alone!" I screamed out, "Please just leave him alo-" my voice cut out from the Narnian's roar of him plunging to the ground. His body breaking the stone and brick as he tumbled down the side of the castle before impacting the floor. Miraz smiled proudly from pushing the poor beast to his death. I squeezed my eyes shut to bear myself from the sight, allowing the tears to pour out.

     "Get that gate closed." Miraz ordered Glozelle. I looked up through the opening of the railings in hopes someone would peer up and see me struggling on the balcony, yet a part of me felt ashamed I allowed myself to get stuck in this situation. I searched the battlefield for Edmund seeing him no where in sight. A loud crash in the distance echoed through the bailey, from the large weight that was holding the gate up now rolling on the floor. The gate started to fall before a large minotaur rushed underneath it. Using all of his strength to hold it up, roaring out from the pain of lifting the heavy piece of metal. 

     Peter shouted to the Narnians to retreat and fall back. I watched as everyone started to make their way out of the castle hurrying before the gate fell shut. In the sky something caught my view, Edmund on a gryphon fleeing the castle. I smiled in pain, happy he was safe but heartbroken I may never see him again. Miraz's glare stuck on the Narnian's still fighting their way out, more and more escaping by the second, "Give the order." Miraz demanded.

     "But- my men are still down there." A hint of worry threaded in Glozelle's tone.

     Miraz grabbed the crossbow from his hands and shoved him to the side, "Now!" He yelled as he began shooting at the minotaur holding the gate. The arrows fired off rapidly, one by one hitting the minotaur making it harder to hold the gate. An arrow struck him in the leg making it give out beneath him and fall on top of his body. I continued to sob watching as the last few Narnians were trapped in here, left to fight until they died. Instantly reality hit me like a train... this was my last chance to get out of here while everyone's distracted, before its really too late. As if I drank a magical potion I shot up onto my feet and ran past the guards to the door of my father's chamber. A few steps too short from the exit I felt the most excruciating sharp pain hit me in the side of my waist. I fell to the ground screaming out, my hands grabbing at the arrow that struck me. I turned back to see my own father lowering his crossbow after hitting me. "It's adorable how you thought you were going to leave." He handed the crossbow back to Glozelle, "Get her out of my sight."

     Listening to his orders, Glozelle and two other soldiers walked to me. Two of them lifting me up by my arms and legs, carrying me out of the room and down to the cellar. Tossing me into the same jail cell Cornelius was put in earlier. Glozelle locked the grate behind him and left me in the room to myself. My cries of pain instanced throughout the cold room as I held onto my wound. I knew I had to rip out the arrow and I had to do it soon. Without a countdown I grabbed the end and pulled it out of my side. Feeling the pointed tip rip out my skin with it as the blood started to trickle out of my waist. I threw the arrow off to the side and pressed both of my hands down on the wound shrieking out in agony. I pulled at one of the loose threads on the sleeve of my dress and used it to rip off some of the fabric, pushing it against the gash in hopes to stop the bleeding. After twenty minutes or so, I had finally calmed down just as my injury finally stopped bleeding out. My eyes fluttered closed, threatening to fall asleep. I fought with myself unsure if I would wake back up after my rest, but after another minute or two... I gave into the physical exhaustion allowing my eyes to be enclosed with darkness before they sealed shut.